Adjustable mechanism for endless conveyor type ditching machine



May 29, 1956 M. c. GRIFFIN ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ENDLESS CONVEYOR TYPE DITCHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23 1951 y 9, 1956 M. c. GRIFFIN 2,747,307

ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ENDLESS CONVEYOR TYPE DITCHING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mark G. 'rfff/fl ATTORNEX ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR ENDLESS CONVEYOR TYPE DITCHING MACHINE Mark C. Griifin, Merriam, Karts. Application April 23, 1951, Serial No. 222,445 1 Claim. (Cl. 37-90) This invention relates to earth-handling apparatus and more particularly to a trench digger, the primary object being to provide a highly maneuverable conveyor means It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a trench digger that includes an elongated as a unit relative to the support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide toggle-like structure for swingably mounting a trench digger conveyor, together with actuating means for the conveyor that includesrotatable members on the axes of swinging movement of the conveyor and the frame whereby the adjustment of the conveyor may take place during continuous driving thereof.

A further object of this free of the trench being dug.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a trench digger that includes the aforesaid features, together with a support therefor in the form of a mobile vehicle, there being structure for leveling the vehicle frame relative to its wheel and axle assembly and capable of serving the additional function of absorbing shock when the machine is under travel on the road.

Many more minor objects including details of construction, will be made clear as the following specification progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a ditching machine made pursuant to my present invention iluustrating certain parts in various positions.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional View taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Thos skilled in this art appreciate the difficulty of providing an automatic trench digging machine of a size sufficient to handle great quantities of dirt and capable of digging through various terrain at relatively great depths while making provision for operation in confined spaces. Oftentimes trenches or ditches must be dug close to verfoundations, under sidewalks or streets and The advantages emanating from uses of the trench digger or ditching machine hereof will become clear as the following description progresses, and in the instance illustrated, the entire assembly is mounted upon a mobile vehicle such as a truck 10, having a frame 12, a cab 14 and a rear wheel and axle assembly 16. A main conveyor 18 is swingably mounted on a frame 20 that is in turn swingably secured to the frame 12 rearwardly of the assembly 16 and an auxiliary conveyor 22 is also carried by the frame 12 at the rearmost end thereof.

are interconof flight elements 56 and since such conventional character and adapted nected by a plurality flight elements are of 12 as at 64 and a piston within the cylinder 62 (not shown) 66 pivotally connected as at 68 on a gusset the corresponding member 34. Likewise, the conveyor 18 and the frame 20 are additionally connected by means of a similar extensible member 72 to each frame member 34 respectively.

Extensible elements 72 each include a hydraulic cylinder 74- pivotally joined to the corresponding member 34 as at 76 and contains a reciprocable piston (not shown) .110 respectively.

having a stem 78 .pivotally joined to the framework50 as at 80.

The lateral conveyor 22 includes a pair of spaced-apart, elongated :tracks 582 depending mm the frame '12 rearwardly of the wheel and axle assembly 16, together with a pair of spaced-apart, interconnected .arcuate .side pieces 84 carried by the tracks 82 therebetween for sliding movement along the longitudinal .axes of the side pieces 84. One of the side pieces 84 is provided with an elongated, arcuate rack 86 consisting of a plurality of openings in flange 87, and a small gear 88 in mesh with the rack 86 is carriedoya housing90 secured to one of the tracks 82. Gear 88 is .rotated by means of a hand-crank 92 that is operably connected with the gear 88 through a train of gears (not shown) within housing 90. A plurality of transverse shafts 94 interconnect the side pieces 84 and are provided .with drums or rollers, not shown, for supporting an endless belt 96. Each shaft 94 respectively has a gear 98 thereon that receives an endless chain 100, the latter passing-beneath a pair of spaced idler sprockets 102 and over a drive sprocket 104, all rotatably carried by the housing 30. Sprocket 104 is connected with the train of gears in housing 30 by means of a shaft 106.

The frame 12 of vehicle '10 is joined with the rear axle 108 of assembly 16 in the usual manner by means of a pair of springs, one only of which is shown in Fig. l and designated by the numeral 110. In order to adjust the horizontal position of frame 12 with respect to the axle 108 and to provide shock-absorbing means, there is provided an extensible device .112 adjacent each spring The device 112 includes avertical hydraulic cylinder 114 secured directly to housing 116 for axle 108 and having a vertically reciprocable piston therein (not shown) provided with a stem 118 that is secured to the frame 12.

In the inoperative position, conveyor 18 and frame 20 are disposed substantially as illustrated in full lines of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Conveyor chains 52 are placed in motion on rotation of the shaft 24 and the drive may be-traced therefrom throughchains 28, the train of gears in housing 30, shafts 36 and 38, chains 42, sprocket wheels 44 and shaft 46 .to the sprocket wheels on the latter, which receive the two endless chains 52.

Such operation may take place irrespective of the positions of the conveyor 18 and frame 20 relative to each other or relative to the frame 12. Conveyor 18 may be moved toward the ground or surface in which a trench is to be dug by operation of the hydraulic extensible means 60 and it is seen that outward movement of the two stems 66 will cause the frame 20 to swing on the shafts 36 and 38 thereby moving the frame 20 and the .conveyor 18 as a unit toward the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that the hydraulic system for controlling all of the extensible elements 60, 72 and 112 may be of conventional character in that suitable valves are provided for such manual control, all not shown but conveniently mountable on the frame 12 rearwardly of cab 14. Simultaneously or separate from the extension of elements 60, conveyor 18 maybe swung relative to the frame 20 by operation of the elements 72. During such operation the stems 78 may be moved outwardly as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby increasing the angle between conveyor 18 and the frame 20. Down- .wardinovement of the conveyor 18 and its position relative to the horizontal, may be adjusted as the trench deepens and the flight elements 56 will cut-away the earth and drag the loose dirt upwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 for deposit on the continuous moving conveyor belt 22. This belt 22 is driven through the train of gears in housing 30 by means of shaft 106 rotating the sprocket 104 and thereby actuating the continuous chain 100.

Theloose dirt deposited upon the endless belt 22 will be projected laterally a substantial distance away from the trench being dug and by means of suitable clutch controls coupling with the mechanism in housing 30, the direction of movement of the conveyor belt 22 may be reversed as desired by the operator. It is similarly notable that the distance the dirt is projected may be varied by operating-handle '92. This causes rotation of the small gear .88 and since the same is in mesh with rack 86, the entire auxiliary conveyor 22 will shift with respect to the tracks 82 in either direction.

When fluid is directed to the cylinders 114, the devices 112 operate to elevate the frame 12 with respect to the axle 108 and thereby acts as an agent to prevent frame 12 from riding on axle 108 when the vehicle 10 is to be driven a substantial distance over rough roads or the like which would tend to allow part of the mechanism to strike the ground. Otherwise, the elements 112 operate to level the frame 12 and either -or both of the stems 118 may be moved upwardly so that the trench being dug by the elements 56 of conveyor tical sidewalls.

It is now seen further that because of the high maneuverability of the conveyor 18 not only through its swinging connection with frame 20 but by virtue of the latter swinging on frame 12, .it is possible to dig relatively deep trenches in close quarters, beneath sidewalks,

18 will have substantially veradjacent vertical walls or foundations, under streets, and virtually at any point covering an area at least as long as the entire assembly illustrated in the drawings.

Details of construction may of course, be varied but those that'fairly come within the broad principles hereof,

are contemplated by the invention and it is therefore, de-

sired .to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A ditching machine adapted for mounting on a truck frame having a lateral conveyor at the rearmost end thereof, said machine comprising an upright member pivotally mounted on said frame forwardly of the conveyor for swinging movement about a horizontal axis parallel with-the direction of travel of the conveyor; an excavating conveyor swingably mounted on said member at the uppermost end of the latter for swinging movement on a horizontal axis and extending rearwardly from the member in overlying relationship to the lateral conveyor, said excavating conveyor including an endless chain provided with a plurality of flight elements for dragging dirt from within an excavation upwardly and forwardly onto the lateral conveyor; double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder means pivotally interconnecting the frame forwardly of said member with the latter adjacent the uppermost end of said member for swinging the member reawardly and downwardly into overlying relationship to the lateral conveyor; and double-acting hydraulic piston and cylinder means pivotally interconnecting the member and the excavating conveyor for altering the angle of inclination of the excavating conveyor when the member is in overlying relationship to the lateral conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

